Threats to Birds:
Diseases
~~~~~Having a bird feeding station can be very beneficial to birds- so long as it’s done correctly. Bird feeders bring birds in to a very small area- the density of birds is very high. Diseases like avian pox, conjunctivitis, and salmonella are spread most easily in such conditions. It is therefore very important that you keep your feeders spread out. The farther apart they are, the less the density of birds.
~~~~~Winter months are often the worst for diseases in birds. Keep your feeders and baths clean, preferably using non-toxic cleaners (we have several effective enzyme based cleaners available at our store) and only when absolutely necessary, a less than 10% bleach solution. Bleach can be very harmful to birds, so use with caution.
~~~~~Most avian diseases lead to first blindness then death of infected birds. Such birds will often linger at feeders, as they are unable to find new food sources with their impaired vision and low energy. An infected bird will usually seem especially ‘fluffy’, have squinting or closed eyes, and move very little. If you sight such a bird at your feeders, it is usually best to thoroughly clean your feeders after the bird has passed. If there is a dead bird under your feeders, be sure to dispose of it (wear gloves and place in plastic bag) so as to prevent spread of the disease.
Predators:
~~~~~There are natural predators to birds. At the feeder, these commonly include cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and shrikes. While it may be disturbing to witness, it is important to keep in mind that this is all a natural process- there are dozens of small birds for every one bird of prey.
~~~~~Far more worrisome predators to feeder birds are the feral and domestic cats that linger at feeding stations. While we may think that our feline friends only watch the birds, rest assured that they catch them as well if they’re ever let outside. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service reports that rural cats (not including suburban and urban cats) kill 39 million birds in the U.S. annually, some other organizations estimates reaching towards 100,000,000. For the safety of our birds, please keep cats inside. At the very least, you could de-claw them, front and back. If neither of these options works for you, it is probably best to take your feeders down when a cat is living outside. I loved my cat, but when I had her, I made sure to keep her inside.
To read more on bird mortality, read the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Report.
Conservation threats:
~~~~~Many birds, like the beautiful Scarlet Tanager, need undisturbed old growth forest to nest and survive. Supporting local parks and conservation efforts are an excellent way to help our feathery friends.
~~~~~To help birds in your own yard, plant trees for them to nest in or hang nesting boxes. Cardinals like spruce trees and robins like oaks, while birds like chickadees, bluebirds, wrens, and swallows appreciate nesting boxes. In fact, Purple Martins east of the Rockies now only nest in man-made colony boxes and gourds.
~~~~~Avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides can help native birds. Birds are very susceptible to chemicals. Also, runoff from pesticides and herbicides into wetlands can kill many food sources for birds like tadpoles, frogs, and insects. If you like taking care of your lawn but want to do so in a natural way, we carry corn-gluten based phosphorus free lawn fertilizer and pre-emergent in our store, a product called Concern.
~~~~~Something as simple as the kind of paper that we buy can have a serious impact on our birds. Many birds we see in our back yards (juncos, red-breasted nuthatches, white throated sparrows, and many others) are called Boreal migrants. This means that they spend the summer months in the coniferous forest of Canada, a place called the Boreal. Nearly 40% of all North American songbirds spend some point of the year in the Boreal forest. The boreal is currently under threat as companies clear cut the old growth forest for facial and bathroom tissues. The cold conditions lead to a long regeneration time for the boreal forest. Avoiding products made by companies that harvest from the Boreal can do a small part to protect our songbirds. Read more at Biogems. |
